Peters



No. 304,504. atented Sept. 2, 1884*.

ATTORNEYS.

ilNrTne STaTns PATENT Ormea. i

YVILLIAM OLEMSON, OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,504, dated September 2, 1884.

Application filed May 7, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, VILLIAM CLEMsoN, of Middletown, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. The object of my invention -is to provide certain new and useful improvements in bicycles, especially in the treadles, whereby a.

greater leverage is obtained with comparatively less power, the bicycle works more easily, and the danger of being thrown over the drivingwheel of the bicycle toward the front is decreased.

rlhe invention consists of the-combination of parts and their construction, substantially as hereinafter fully setforth, and pointed out in the claims. Y Y

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a side View of niy improved bicycle. Fig. 2 is a side view of a modification of the same.

A is the driving-wheel, B the fork, C the reach, D the seat, E the rear wheel, F the steering-handle, and G the brake, all of the usual construction.

To each shank of the fork B a bar, H, is pivoted at about half the height, which bar II proj ectsl toward the front, andis braced by a brace-bar, J, secured to the bar H and to the prong of the fork. The bar H is provided with a series of apertures, a.

To each bar H a connecting-bar, K, is pivoted at the outer end, and to the lower end of the connecting-bar the front end of a lever, L, is pivoted, which is pivoted at or near its center on a pin, M, formed on the end ofa crank,v N, formed on the end of the axle O, pivotedin the lower ends of the fork, and on which shaft the driving-wheel A is rigidly mounted. The rear end of each lever L is bent downward and then upward to form a spring-arm, P, on the upper end of which a foot-rest, Q, is pivoted.

In the modication shown in Fig. 2 the lower end of each shank of the fork B is bent downward and outward toform an arm, R, to the lower ends of which arms B the lower ends of the connecting-bars K are pivoted, the upper ends of the said bars being pivoted to the front ends of the levers L, which have need be but about one-half the usual length,

and the movement of the foot is decreased and much leverage and power are obtained. The rider is also enabled to use his weight in such a manner that it acts vertically and he need not exert as much -muscle power. By providing the springs a greater or less leverage is provided automatically, as may be required. If much power is exertedfor instance, on an upgrade-the levers bend from the crank until from twenty to twenty-Jive more per cent. of leverageis obtained, and the recoil of the springs throws the crank over the bottom center. The spring contracts and thus decreases the foot travel, as a lever of Se rests to exactly suit the rider.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2 a much smaller wheel can be used, thus increasing the safety and power of the bicycle.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is Y 1. In a bicycle, the combination, with the wheels and fork, of levers pivoted at or near their centers on the cranks, bars connecting the front ends of the said levers with the fork,

vIOC) nected and braced to said fork, and the levers about centrally pivoted to the crank, and connected by bars to said arms, the rear ends of said levers having upwardly -projecting 15 springs to which are connected the foot-rests, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

VILLIAM OLEMSON.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. Wiccins, WILLIAM W. TAYLOR. 

